Leviticus 22
McGeeCHAPTER 22THEME: Defilement of the priesthood through disease, diet, and the dead; discernment of the offerings brought by the people
Leviticus 22:1
DEFILEMENT OF THE PRIESTHOOD THROUGH DISEASE, DIET, AND THE DEADThere was to be a separation of the sacred and the secular. Aaron was not to bring the things of the tabernacle home with him. The lesson for us is that we are not to treat the sacred and holy things of God as if they were commonplace.
Leviticus 22:3
The priest is not to go about his office in a careless and slipshod manner. God requires that he should be put out of the office of the priesthood if he does that. I believe there is a spiritual application for the believer today. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1Co_11:31-32). God proceeds to enumerate all manner of uncleanness which would disqualify the priest from carrying out his priestly duties.
Leviticus 22:4
The priests were to be holy in their relationships in their homes, in their social contacts, in their business contacts, in anything where they touched the world. The priests were set apart to be holy unto the Lord. They were to be an example to others. Some of the things mentioned are the same as those given for all of Israel. The priest had no special privileges. Uncleanness in the common man and uncleanness in the priest were to be ceremonially cleansed. The private life of the priest must match his public office and service.
Leviticus 22:10
The priest must preserve the sanctity of the tabernacle by excluding the stranger. Only the sons of God can worship God.
Leviticus 22:11
The verses go on to explain that only those who belong to the priest, who were born in his house, can eat of his meat. If a priest’s daughter married a Gentile, she was excluded from access to the holy things. If she were widowed or divorced and returned to her father’s house, she could eat her father’s meat. The prodigal son or daughter may return home and find a welcome.
Leviticus 22:14
Ignorance of the law affords no excuse. The man who eats of the holy things unwittingly is guilty. A fine is expected of him. This placed an added responsibility upon the priests to guard the holy place. The unbelieving world gains its impression of the church from the members of the church. Indifference and irreverence is detected immediately by the outside unbeliever, and his attitude and conduct is governed accordingly. The Lord Jesus said, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh” (Mat_18:7).
Leviticus 22:17
DISCERNMENT OF THE OFFERINGS BROUGHT BY THE PEOPLEThis section contains rules and regulations for the people in bringing their offerings, and these rules must be strictly enforced by the priests. The regulations apply to the people, but the enforcement applies to the priests. No offering with a blemish was to be permitted because the offerings pointed to Christ. Any departure from this was to lower the concept of the person of Christ and the holy demands of God.
Leviticus 22:21
Natural deformity in an animal as well as bruises and cuts and broken bones comprised the blemishes. Any of these should make them reject the animal as an offering. No stranger was to make an offering. And any offering animal was to be at least seven days old. Seven represents completionit was to have lived a complete cycle. It was at this point of offering animals without blemish that Israel failed miserably. They brought that which was torn and lame and sick for their offerings and God called forth from the prophets a denunciation of their offerings. We find this in Mal_1:6-14.
Leviticus 22:29
The offering was to be a freewill offering. This type of offering must represent the Father who gave His Son in love and the Son who came “…for the joy that was set before him …” (Heb_12:2). The offering must be eaten the same day. No opportunity must be allowed for the slightest bit of corruption.
Leviticus 22:31
They were to be a witness for God. They were not to go as witnesses to the ends of the earth as you and I have been called to do today. They were called to serve God as a nation. As they did this, the whole world would come to Jerusalem. God’s holy name was to be represented in every act of worship. What was to be the motivation for their obedience? Dr. Andrew A. Bonar gives five reasons: (1) “I am the Lord” (2) “I will be hallowed among the children of Israel” (3) “I am the Lord which hallow you” (4) “I am the Lord which brought you out of Egypt” (5) “Your God.” “I am the Lord which hallow you.” There is liberty for the believer today, but liberty does not grant license. The holiness and righteousness of God must be zealously maintained in all our worship. “I am the Lord which brought you out of Egypt.” God has saved you, my friend. God saves you by grace. He didn’t save you with the idea of exacting commensurate work from you. Then it wouldn’t be grace. I do not agree with the words of the song, “I gave My life for thee, what hast thou done for Me?” Grace does not demand payment. But let me ask you a question. Do you love Him? Do you want to serve Him? The wife doesn’t fix a birthday dinner for her husband because it is her duty. She does it because she loves the old boy! And the true believer will serve God because he loves Him. “I am the LORD which hallow you, that brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God.” Is He your God, my friend? If He is, then you represent Him. The world is reading you. Remember the little poem: The Gospel is written a chapter a day By the deeds that you do and words that you say. Men read what you say whether faithless or true. Say, what is the Gospel according to you? Men are not reading the Bible today. They are reading you and me. What are they reading in you, my friend?